Kenya shifts to digital health systems, new financing model amid funding, system gaps

Health CS Aden Duale at Bunge Towers, Parliament, Nairobi. February 10, 2026. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] Kenya is pushing forward with major health sector reforms, including a shift to digital systems, new financing structures and tighter monitoring of services, even as questions emerge over implementation pressures and system readiness. Speaking on Wednesday during the 53rd Annual Scientific Conference of the Kenya Medical Association in Naivasha, Nakuru County, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the changes are aimed at building a more connected and future-ready health system. "We are currently driving the most ambitious healthcare transformation in our nation's history," he said, adding that the reforms are anchored on the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The reforms focus on four key areas: health financing, digital systems, medical supplies and human resources for health. Under the Social Health Authority (SHA), the government said 30.4 million Kenyans have been registered, with Sh169.19 billion collected across health funds and Sh124.53 billion disbursed to health facilities. More than 10,600 facilities are now linked to the system nationwide. However, the transition from the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) has exposed operational pressures, particularly delays in reimbursements and legacy debts owed to hospitals. The government acknowledged the strain and said it is working to clear backlogs and stabilise the system. Duale said the restructuring was necessary. "We could no longer rely on mere resilience to mask structural inefficiencies, fragmented policies and the opacity that allowed resources to leak while patients suffered." Digital transformation is being rolled out through the Digital Health Agency, including a national health information exchange and the Taifa Care system, which links patient records, claims processing and fraud monitoring. More than 4,000 public facilities have been digitised and over 30,000 devices deployed to support the rollout. The government has also introduced an artificial intelligence-based system to flag suspicious claims in real time, including duplicate billing and fabricated records. A geo-fenced application, Practice 360, is also being used to ensure claims are submitted within accredited facilities. Duale said the system is designed to strengthen accountability while supporting service delivery. "We are building a smart, interconnected National Health Information Exchange," he said. In medical supplies, reforms at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) aim to improve distribution and reduce stock-outs through end-to-end tracking from warehouses to facilities. The National Equipment Support Project is also equipping 120 county facilities with diagnostic machines, including CT scanners and digital X-rays. The health workforce remains central to the reforms. The government is developing a new health care workers policy to define employment conditions, rights and training standards. "We cannot build a resilient health system on the backs of a frustrated workforce," Duale said. The reforms are also accompanied by planned legislative changes, including a proposed Quality of Care and Patient Safety Bill, 2025, alongside reviews of key health laws. Despite the scale of changes, concerns remain over funding delays, system integration and the ability of facilities to absorb rapid digital and administrative shifts as the reforms take effect.

Kenya shifts to digital health systems, new financing model amid funding, system gaps

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Related Topics

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

DIGGER JOBS

Digger Motors

Digger Real Estate

Kenya shifts to digital health systems, new financing model amid funding, system gaps

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Related Topics

Trending Now

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS